The Al-Musta'sim Billah Mosque (Arabic: مسجد المستعصم بالله), formerly the Abu Rabi'ah Mosque, is an Islamic place of worship located in the district of Adhamiyah in Baghdad, Iraq. A historic structure renovated in modern times, it contains the tomb of the last Abbasid Caliph, al-Musta'sim. It was also known as Mashhad al-Wu'ud, before it became a mosque.
| Al-Musta'sim Billah Mosque | |
|---|---|
 The grave of the last Abbasid Caliph, al-Musta'sim, inside the mosque | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Sunni Islam |
| Province | Baghdad Governorate |
| Location | |
| Location | Adhamiyah, Baghdad, Iraq |
  Shown within Iraq | |
| Geographic coordinates | 33°22′17″N 44°21′48″E / 33.3714557°N 44.3632855°E |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Modern, with elements from Abbasid architecture |
| Completed | 2005 (current structure) |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 200 worshippers |
| Dome(s) | 1 (shrine) |
| Minaret(s) | 1 |
| Minaret height | 30 metres |
History edit
Originally, the site was the location of a shrine known as Mashhad al-Wu'ud, built over the grave of Ahmad al-Sabti, who was the son of the Abbasid Caliph Harun al-Rashid and a Sufi mystic.[1][2][3] The Abbasid Caliph, al-Musta'sim was killed by the Ilkhanate in the 1258 Siege of Baghdad, his remains were transferred here and reburied.[1][4][3] His daughter (or granddaughter) Rabi'ah was also buried here later on, and a shrine was built for her too, hence the name of the mosque was the Abu Rabi'ah Mosque.[1][2]
Modern history edit
In 1993, and archaeological excavation was conducted at the mosque. The historian Imad Abd al-Salam Rauf, who was involved in the excavations, was able to find the tombstone of the deceased Caliph.[5][4] The mosque and the attached tomb were renovated in 2005.[5][3][4] It was almost completely rebuilt with modern architecture.[2] A room for the Imam and other necessities were added to the mosque's structure.[3]
Specifications edit
The building has an area of 1000 m2 and can accommodate 200 worshippers.[3][6][2] Almost no trace of the original mosque remain, having being replaced by a modern structure.[3][6][2] A small dome still remains over the tomb of Caliph al-Musta'sim, and all other historic features of the tomb have disappeared.[3][6][2]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c "مسجد ومرقد المستعصم بالله". rahm.ahlamountada.com (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ a b c d e f "مسجد المستعصم بالله". areq.net. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ a b c d e f g "الگاردينيا - مجلة ثقافية عامة - "مشهد النذور او قبر النذور وفيه اكتشف قبر الخليفة المستنصر بالله في محلة النصة في الاعظمية"". www.algardenia.com. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ a b c "بالفيديو .. هنا يرقد الخليفة العباسي المستعصم بالله". الجزيرة نت (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ a b "Imad Abd al-Salam Rauf, an Iraqi thinker who loved history and found the grave of the last Abbasid Caliph".
- ^ a b c "المستعصم بالله… آخر خلفاء الدولة العباسية". مجلة الشبكة العراقية,IMN Magazine (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-04-02.